Introduction: what is hermeneutics?

Summary

When someone asks me what hermeneutics means, I usually just say that it means interpretation. Sometimes I continue by adding that hermeneutics concerns theories for correctly interpreting texts. “Hermeneutics” and “interpretation” are derived from the same Greek word. While “hermeneutics” is not a common word in English, “interpretation” is. We are well aware that there are interpreters and interpretations in many fields of study. One interprets novels, poems, plays and movies. One interprets the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, the Tao Te Ching and the Brahmasutra. Should one interpret these texts? Can one do anything but interpret them? One interprets the law. The Supreme Court is supposed to interpret the Constitution of the United States. An actor interprets the role she has to portray. A conductor interprets a piece of music. We are also well aware of different theories of interpretation. Aristotle's Poetics tells us how to interpret Greek tragedy; he even states some rules. Literary criticism has developed many theories for interpreting literary texts. It would seem we know more about hermeneutics than we thought.

Do natural scientists interpret nature or do they explain it? Do they interpret the data collected from experiments? Do you interpret or just understand the motives of your best friend? Do you interpret a sculpture and, if so, how do you go about that? Is there only one correct interpretation of that sculpture or can there be several?